A fiery speech delivered during President Donald Trump’s controversial “Rededicate 250” event ignited a storm of backlash Sunday after prominent Evangelical leader Franklin Graham declared that America had become “morally rotten” and “sick with sin.”
The remarks immediately exploded across social media.
Speaking in a pre-recorded message aired during the massive National Mall gathering in Washington, D.C., Graham painted a grim picture of the United States, warning that the nation was spiraling into moral collapse.
“Why do we need to rededicate ourselves?” Graham asked viewers.
“When God sent the flood and destroyed the earth, it was because man’s heart had become so evil and violent.”
The longtime Evangelical preacher then pointed to issues like transgender rights, violence in entertainment, and what he described as the moral decay of modern culture.
“We are completely sick with sin,” Graham warned.
The speech came during Trump’s highly publicized “Rededicate 250” prayer event — a gathering promoted by the White House and Trump allies as a patriotic celebration of America’s Christian heritage ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
But the event was already drawing fierce criticism before Graham’s comments even aired.
Just hours earlier, Trump himself triggered outrage after issuing another ominous warning toward Iran, threatening there would soon be “nothing left” of the country if its leaders failed to move quickly toward a deal.
That backdrop made Graham’s speech even more explosive online.
Critics immediately accused the reverend of focusing on culture war issues while ignoring what they described as far more serious moral and humanitarian crises unfolding under Trump’s administration.
Liberal commentator Kyle Kulinski blasted the speech on social media, writing:
“No mention of corruption, starting illegal wars, carpet bombing schools, funding genocide, building concentration camps, torture, destruction of the constitution, kicking people off healthcare, cutting free school meals, giving all the money to the rich? SHOCKING!”
Others questioned Graham’s priorities entirely.
Bill Kristol sarcastically asked whether Graham had mentioned “sexual abuse by clergy” during the speech.
Meanwhile, commentator Hemant Mehta argued that Graham consistently avoids discussing issues like poverty or healthcare access.
“It’s telling that Graham is never this concerned about poverty, health care access, or anything that would actually make people’s lives better,” Mehta wrote online.
The “Rededicate 250” event itself has become a lightning rod for criticism from church-state watchdog groups and progressive religious organizations, many of whom accuse Trump allies of transforming Christianity into a political movement centered around loyalty to the president.
Thousands attended the National Mall gathering, which featured speeches, worship music, and appearances from top Trump administration officials including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The White House described the event as a celebration of faith, unity, and America’s spiritual foundations.
But critics argued Sunday’s rhetoric only deepened concerns that the gathering had become heavily politicized.